The Ministry of Education is expressing shock and concern following the shooting of Secondary School student Zwade Alleyne over the weekend.
Minister of Education Dr. Michael Dowlath, in a media release, described the act of violence as deeply troubling and wholly unacceptable. He extended prayers to Zwade and his family during this extremely difficult time.
Minister Dowlath said the Ministry’s Student Support Services Division stands ready to provide psychosocial support to Zwade’s family, peers and school staff.
The 17-year-old Form Five student of Arima North Secondary was with friends at an apartment building in Maloney Gardens when gunmen opened fire. Zwade was struck by a bullet and was rushed to hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The teenager was in the middle of writing his Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. The Ministry has promised to cover the cost of re-registration for the May/June 2026 sitting.